Cameroon intelligence agency weakened by political clan rivalries

The Direction Générale de la Recherche Extérieure (DGRE), Cameroon’s external intelligence agency, has been significantly weakened by internal clan rivalries surrounding President Paul Biya. Once a feared institution, the DGRE is reportedly struggling with systemic fractures, where state secrets are used as political currency and intelligence reports are viewed with suspicion due to potential filtering.

Internal power struggles have led to a breakdown in traditional reporting lines. For instance, the current head of intelligence can only transmit reports to the President after they have been reviewed by the Secretary General of the Presidency. These tensions are exacerbated by friction between various political factions, including reported involvement from the President’s eldest son and tensions between advisors like Vice-Admiral Joseph Fouda and First Lady Chantal Biya.

Historical leaks, such as a 2021 conversation involving Colonel Émile Joël Bamkoui, have highlighted the vulnerability of the services. These incidents underscore a shift where intelligence information is increasingly weaponized within the state apparatus, leading to a clandestine market for information and a loss of institutional credibility.